Motor plow



G. A. BRANSON Dec. 8, 1953 MOTOR PLOW 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1949 'INVENTOR.

94 0/? 654 57m BY (71% Q MSW/V,

Dec. 8, 1953 G. A. BRANSON 2,661,673

MOTOR PLOW v Filed March 25, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 2 8 INVENTOR. A. BRA/VSO/V ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 8, 1953 ea'r'r OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a farming machine and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a farming machine comprising a frame or chassis at the rear end of which is mounted a single steering wheel and forwardly of the chassis there is provided a pair of drive wheels which are powered by a motor or engine carried upon the chassis. At the rear end of the frame or chassis there is provided an operators seat and a steering column is positioned immediately forwardly of such seat. There is provided a plurality of plows which may be manipulated by means of levers handy to the operator of the machine and the plows may be raised and lowered in a novel manner and there is also provided at the forward end of the chassis a bulldozer blade which may also be raised and lowered by means of a lever adjacent the operators seat. Other novel features are also embodied in the invention and will be set forth more specifically hereinafter.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a machine of the character set forth which is comparatively simple in construction, easy to operate and yet eifective and efiicient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a machine of the character set forth, of novel means for controlling a plurality of plows forming a part of the invention.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a machine of the character set forth, of a novel bulldozer blade forming a part of the invention and novel means for the control thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel mounting for a plowshare.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating certain details of construction,

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4.,

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken along line 66 of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 'Ii' of Figure 2,

(Cl. err-29) 2 V Figure 8 is a fragmentary end elevational view of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Figure 10,

Figure 10 is-a plan view of the machine embodying the present invention with its plows in upraised position with a bulldozer in place thereon, and with certain spring clips shown in Figures 2 to 5, inclusive, removed therefrom.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein a frame or chassis which extends horizontally and which comprises a pair of rear side members I0 and II and a pair of forward side members I2 and I3. The members i0 and II are interconnected at their rear end by a transversely extending cross bar Is and at their forward ends by a like member 55.

A steering block I5 is affixed to the frame im mediately forwardly of the cross bar I4 and a vertically extending steering column I'I extends therethrough and terminates at its lower end in a yoke I8 for a steering wheel i9 which also acts to support the apparatus forming the present invention. The upper end of the steering column i? is provided with the conventional tiller wheel 28 and a bracket 2i is supported upon the frame at the rear end thereof to carry a seat 22 for the operator of the apparatus.

Extending forwardly from the block it and likewise forming a part of the frame or chassis of the apparatus is a pair of parallel, centrally disposed longitudinally extending keel members 23 and 24 whose forward edges are in alignment with the forward edges of the side members I2 and I3.

A transversely extending strut 25 interconnects the rear end of the side member I2 and the keel 23 and a like strut 26 interconnects the rear end of the side member I 3 and the keel 2 3.

A pair of longitudinally extending frame members 27 nd 28 interconnect the strut 25 and the cross bar I5 and the strut 2t and the cross bar I5, respectively. The members 2'? and 28, while forming a part of the sides of the chassis are nevertheless inset from the planes of the side members I0, I2, II and It to thereby provide recesses 29 and 3B for drive wheels 3i and 32, respectively, which wheels are mounted upon an axle 3'3 affixed to the undersides of the keels 23 and 2 An engine M is mounted atop the keels 23 and 24 and is provided with a pair of rearwardly extending control rods 35 and 35 which extend through an upright support member 3? adjacent the steering column and terminate in fingerpieces 38.

A shaft 39 having a crank All centrally disposed therein is journalled forwardly in the side member i ii and extends transversely of the chassis and is journalled at its other end in the keel 23. A transversely extending shaft 4! having a centrally disposed crank 42 is iournalled forwardly in the side member I I and in the keel 24'.

A shaft 53 having a crank 44 is journalled in the forward end of the side member I2 and in the keel 23 and a like shaft 45 is journalled in the forward end of the side member [3 and in the keel 24 and is provided with a crank 56. The shafts 39 and 41 are respectively provided with upwardly extending levers M and 48 and the shafts es and 45 are respectively provided with upwardly extended arms 49 and 50.

A horizontally extending link is provided at its rear end with a yoke 52 which is connected pivotally with the lever 41 and at its forward end with a yoke 53 which is pivotally connected adjacent the upper end of the arm 49.

A horizontally extending link 54 is provided at its rear end with a yoke 55 which is pivotally connected to the lever 38 and at its forward end with'a yoke 55 which is pivotally connected to the upper end of the arm 50.

A toothed segment 51 is afiixed upon the upper side of the member ID adjacent the lever A! and a toothed segment 58 is affixed to the upper side of the member ll adjacent the lever 18. Each of the levers 41 and 48 is provided with a latch 59 and 60, respectively, which latches are adapted to be manipulated by means of levers ii! adjacent the upper ends of the levers 41 and 4B.

A plow 62 is afiixed to the rearward end of a shaft 63 whose forward end is provided with a yoke 64 which is, in turn, revolubly connected with the crank M and held in position thereon by means of a spring latch member 65. A plow 66 is likewise carried at the rear end of a shaft 61 provided with a yoke 68 which is revolubly connected with the crank 46 and latched thereto by means of a spring latch member 69. A plow 1B is afiixed to the rear end of a shaft H which is provided at its forward end by a yoke 12 which is revolubly connected with the crank 40 and latched thereto by means of the spring device 13. A plow M is carried at the rear end of a shaft which is provided at its forward end with a yoke l6 which is revolubly connected with the crank 42 and held in position thereon by means of the spring device 11.

Each of the shafts 63, 61, H and 15 is formed with a downwardly curved portion 18 at its rear end, a horizontally extending integral portion 19 and an angularly and upwardly extending portion formed integrally with the portion 19, as indicated at 8B.

A transversely extending shaft 8| having a crank 82 is centrally journalled in the side member I 2 and in the keel 23 and the crank 82 extends beneath the plow shaft 63. A transversely extending shaft 83 is centrally provided with a crank 84 and is centrally journalled in the side member I 3 and the keel 24 and the crank 84 passes beneath the plow shaft 61. A transversely extending shaft 85 is centrally provided with a crank 83 which extends beneath the plow shaft 1i and the shaft 85 is centrally J'ournalled in the side member it and in the keel 23. A transversely extending shaft 8'! is centrally provided with a crank 88 which extends beneath the plow shaft 75 and is centrally iournalled in the side member H and in the keel 24.

The shaft 8| is provided with an upwardly extending arm 89 and the shaft 83 is provided with a like upwardly extending arm 90. The shaft is provided with an upwardly extending operat-- ing lever 9i and the shaft 31 is provided with an upwardly extending operating lever 92.

A horizontally extending elongated link 83 is provided at its rear end with a yoke 96 which is pivotally connected through the lever iii and is provided at its forward end with a yoke 85 which is pivotally connected to the upper end of the arm 89. A horizontally extending elongated link is provided at its rear end with a yoke 9i which is pivotally connected to the operating leverv 92 and is provided at its forward end with a yoke 98 which is pivotally connected adjacent the upper end of the arm ed.

A toothed segment 99 is mounted atop the side member it adjacent the operating lever El and a like toothed segment iiifi is mounted atop the side member I I adjacent the operating lever 92.

Each of the cranks 85, 55 is pro-- vided with a bearing assembly comprising, in each case, a roller it! mounted revolubly upon. the crank and provided with a centrally disposed peripheral groove H22 in which the horizontal portion 19 of the plow shaft is adapted to rest.-

An inverted U-shaped spring clip H33 is "provided". with curled ends its adapted to receive a U-- shaped locking pin ltd therein. A second roller Hi6 provided with a peripheral groove iii? is mounted upon an axle H38 which extends through the sides of the member 183 and the second. roller 65 is adapted to rest upon the upper side: of the horizontal portion is of the plow shaft.

In operation, it will be apparent that the plows $2 and it may be raised and lowered by means of the lever 9! and that the plows 6t and '54 may be raised and lowered by means of the lever s2. The apparatus may be utilized without the sol op 39 in position in which case it will act as an adjustable plow or cultivator. When desired, the plows may be raised to the position shown, for example, in Figure 9 and thereafter the pins H9 and 12! may be inserted through the openings provided therefor after which the plow shafts 63, El, H and 55 will be supported by the pins H9 and 52!.

While but certain forms of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a horizontal frame having a recess centrally in each side thereof, a drive wheel in each of said recesses, an axle for said drive wheels carried by the frame, an engine for supplying power to the drive wheels mounted on the frame over said axle, a vertically extending steering column mounted centrally adjacent the rear of the frame, a dirigible supporting wheel the lower end of the steering column, an operators seat mounted upon the frame adjacent the steer ing column, a pair of plows mountedadjacent the forward end of the frame and below the sides thereof, a pair of plows mounted adjacent the rearward end of the frame and inwardly from the sides thereof, manually operable means for raising and lowering the plows on one side of the frame, and independent manually operable means for raising and lowering the plows on the other side of the frame.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a horizontal frame having a recess centrally in each side thereof, a drive wheel in each of said recesses, an axle for said drive wheels carried by the frame, an engine for supplying power to the drive wheels mounted on the frame over said axle, a vertically extending steering column mounted centrally adjacent the rear of the frame, a dirigible supporting wheel at the lower end of the steering column, an operators seat mounted upon the frame adjacent the steering column, a pair of plows mounted adjacent the forward end of the frame and below the sides thereof, a pair of plows mounted adjacent the rearward end of the frame and inwardly from the sides thereof, manually operable means for raising and lowering the plows on one side of the frame, independent manually operable means for raising and lowering the plows on the other side of the frame, and manually operable means for locking said plows in raised J positions.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a horizontal frame having a recess centrally in each side thereof, a drive wheel in each of said recesses, an axle for said drive wheels carried by the frame, an engine for supplying power to the drive wheels mounted on the frame over said axle, a vertically extending steering column mounted centrally adjacent the rear of the frame, a dirigible supporting wheel at the lower end of the steering column, an operators seat mounted upon the frame adjacent the steering column, a pair of plows mounted adjacent the forward end of the frame and below the sides thereof, a pair of plows mounted adjacent the rearward end of the frame and inwardly from the sides thereof, manually operable means for raising and lowering the plows on one side of the frame, independent manually operable means for raising and lowering the plows on the other side of the frame, and manually operable means for locking said plows in raised positions, said last-mentioned means including a plowshaft for each of the plows, said plowshafts each having a substantially horizontally extending portion and transversely extending pins removably mounted in the frame and adapted to underlie the horizontal portions of the plowshafts when the same are in raised position.

GEORGE A. BRANSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 956,721 McKinney May 3, 1910 1,029,456 Parmele June 11, 1912 1,033,207 Starr July 23, 1912 1,047,215 Harrison Dec. 17, 1912 1,069,002 Hackney July 29, 1913 1,076,671 Harrison Oct. 28, 1913 1,082,847 Cushman Dec. 30, 1913 1,094,277 Van Camp Apr. 21, 1914 1,159,268 Potter Nov. 2, 1915 1,318,036 Wakefield Oct. 7, 1919 1,522,378 McLeod et a1. Jan. 6, 1925 1,670,270 Monson May 15, 1928 1,678,343 Kretzer July 24, 1928 2,195,948 Wentworth Apr. 2, 1940 2,446,186 Jarmin July 27, 1948 

